If you’ve somehow managed to watch every single World Cup match so far, you’ll have heard the national anthems of all 48 countries competing in North America this summer. It’s a long-standing tradition before international games, allowing fans inside the stadium to make themselves heard in a collective outpouring of pre-match patriotism. Not all anthems are created equal, though. Every single one is different, each representing its country of origin in its own unique way.
While every anthem should be respected, it’s hard to deny that some are unequivocally better than others. A select few have gained legendary status over the years, while others are criticised for being dreary, boring and out of touch. Unfortunately, the English national anthem often falls into the latter category.
It’s often labelled a dirge and its dreary tone is hardly inspiring in the same way as other iconic national anthems, but it does retain considerable support in some quarters.
Scotland, on the other hand, arguably have one of the finest national anthems on the planet. The spine-tingling rendition of Flower Of Scotland ahead of their opening match against Haiti will live long in the memory of all who were lucky enough to witness it.
Although they aren’t exactly doing wonders on the pitch, having barely scraped past Haiti before losing to Morocco, the anthem has done Scotland proud in the eyes of the football world.
But when it comes to crowning the best anthem of all 48 teams, the iconic battle cry is up against no shortage of worthy opponents.
The national anthem of France is certainly up there, with La Marseillaise rarely disappointing when being belted out by thousands of passionate supporters.
Over the centuries, it has been banned and has represented revolutions, but is now widely heralded as one of the most recognisable anthems in world sport.
Brazil can also claim to have one of the best anthems on the planet, with its memorable tune accompanied by stirring words about not fearing battle, a fearless colossus and a beloved homeland.
The national anthem of Argentina, while not as iconic as the song of their South American neighbours, is always marked by pure passion and shouldn’t be counted out.
It’s also hard to argue against the Star-Spangled Banner, which stirs up all sorts of emotions among even the most unpatriotic Americans.
Mexico and South Africa could be considered dark horses, with their anthems having left an impression over the course of the World Cup so far.
However, there can only be one winner. Which country do you think has the best national anthem? Now’s your chance to have your say in our poll…